In a major social stride, activist-lawyer Mahnoor Omer, represented by Ahsan Jehangir Khan, has filed a petition in Lahore High Court (Rawalpindi Bench) to remove sales tax on women’s sanitary napkins and related menstrual hygiene products. The petition argues that treating such basic health necessities as luxury items is unjust, unconstitutional, and perpetuates gender inequality.
The petitions states the current tax rates levied on these products are substantially high with 18% sales tax imposed on local and 25% imposed on imported products after customs clearance. To top it the most important raw material required in the manufacturing of sanitary pads, superabsorbent polymer is tax heavily at a whopping 25% rate.
Ahsan Jehangir Khan told the court that these heavy taxes make the sanitary products expensive with only 12% of the women being able to afford them. The rest resort to unsafe alternatives, compromising their health and dignity.
Mahnoor running the campaign for women’s rights under the hashtags #AbolishTheRedTax and #EndPeriodPoverty, mentioned in a post on her instagram:
“The writ impacts half the population of Pakistan, and I’m so glad to be working with JJ&Co. And Ahsan Jehangir to challenge the period tax. Please share this widely and voice your support for this writ, public pressure on justic institutions is important.”
She further mentioned how the petition works on grounds of s.13(1) of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, stating that the government can expempt ‘essential goods’ from being taxed. Yet a basic necessity to women and girls like sanitary pads is being taxed heavily which should actually be in the tax exemption category.
Mahnoor in another post on her instagram wrote: “with the court’s approval the revenue department has been added as a respondent which is a key step in holding the state accountable for a tax regime that fuels period poverty”
This case is being watched closely by civil society, since its outcome could reshape the lives of women who are at risk of contracting hygiene-related diseases.
